@mzs: The civic was available as a manual because it was a mild hybrid system. I'm not sure it would be feasible/possible to have a non-computer-controlled tranny in a full-hybrid setup.

I'm all for fast sedans, but even the AMG mercedes versions of the S-class are too much. If the S65 is a rolling explicative, this thing is the vehicular equivalent of a particularly famous George Carlin monolog.

yes.

It's going to need a giant "HYBRID" sticker on the back window if people are going to buy it. It's not enough to drive a car that gets 70mpg. I need everyone else to know that it gets 70mpg.

Put this engine into an A8. Quit wasting time with these luxury SUVs, they're relics of a stupider time.

@teargas: Or just ditch the R32 completely, the MKIV was a novelty, the MKV R32 is useless and pricey.

Um. Fuck. Yes.

Eddie Jordan, The last of the true F1 privateers. He's also a better talent spot than Dr. Jerry Bus: the driver list for their team looks like a who's who: Damon Hill, Eddie Irvine, H.H. Frentzen, Fisichella, Barrichello, and some guy named Michael Schumacher, whoever that is (even if it was just for one race).

@nerfball1976: True dragons know there's only two color choices: Japanese Racing White, or French Racing Blue (Given Nissan's Renault connection).

I'd rather see an A3 2.0 TDI Quattro.

Quite frankly I'm surprised they waited this long. I'm all for hybrids, but the combination of "overtly green", "Numb, disconnected driving feel", and "ambiguously luxurious" seems like a perfect match for the yuppies who buy cars for image rather than driving experience.

What if your significant other is a cold-hearted bitch?

@CodingParadox: You're missing a better formula. The "5200" constant you're using is a hack which is fine for back-of-napkin type stuff, but doesn't reflect all the other things that are going on in an engine.

@AndyDuncan: Um. you know. Like my niche. My niche is craving to be filled. Come on ford, fill my niche. (the first comment wasn't originally intended to be dirty)

I'd still love to know why Ford (and GM) can justify speciality performance models of a car to be sold only in a country with a smaller population than California, yet they can't make a financial case for bringing them to the states.

@TriShield: Except you would expect their nationalities to be reversed: Jeremy is arrogant, loud, and fond of denim. Dan is more or less quiet and has a dry wit.

@AndyDuncan: And you can probably leave out the M3, RS4 (not the S4, that thing is soft enough for a hi-po diesel these days), and the Lotus.

Tacoma, Colorado, Dakota, Frontier. The new ford Transit. The F-150, Titan, Tundra, GM-1500 series (each with a small displacement V8 or better yet an approx 3-liter 6-cyl). Everything else that rides a GMT-900 platform. The A3, the GTI (even if they call it the "GT"), the s30, s40, v50. The Astra, Yaris, Civic, Fit,…

@Mad_Science: No need to check again, it still is. However, "The Paris Dakar" or "The Dakar" rally has, on occasion, neither begun nor ended in Paris or Dakar. I don't see them changing the name, though perhaps they'll do something like the "American LeMans" people do.

Boo for covering the engine's naughty bits with Puritan Plastic. I want to pop the hood and see that baby going commando, crotchless panties at most.